Bringing together informed analyses on the challenges of critical skill shortages (CSS) in the Asia-Pacific region, this book provides 14 country reports to discuss the critical jobs and skills to achieve long-term policies and approaches towards realising the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The contributors of the volume discuss the workforce projections and planning, existing programmes that address the skills and jobs needed, and workforce policy challenges that need to be addressed to achieve the SDGs. The book identifies two types of CSS present in the workforce: one being skilled labour shortages in existing industries and the second being soft skills like critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Extending the discussion beyond immediate skill shortages, the book assesses longer-term policies and approaches to tackle the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This book will interest researchers in the fields of human resource management and development, international business, development studies, and policymakers from the Asia-Pacific region.

Subas P. Dhakal is Associate Professor at the University of New England (UNE)—Armidale, NSW.

Alan Nankervis is Adjunct Professor of Human Resource Management at Curtin University (Perth, Australia) and the Asia Pacific University of Innovation & Technology (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

John Burgess is Professor at the Centre for Organisational Change and Agility, Torrens University Australia.